Standing Offer Parasite, Pathogen, and Sperm Viability Analysis of Honey Bee Samples

ACAN (01R11-22-S016)

Standing Offer Parasite, Pathogen, and Sperm Viability Analysis of Honey Bee Samples

This Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) is a public notice indicating to the supplier community that Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada intends to award a standing offer to a pre-identified supplier, thereby allowing other suppliers to signal their interest in bidding, by submitting a Statement of Capabilities. If no supplier submits, a Statement of Capabilities that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, on or before the closing date stated in this ACAN, the Contracting Officer may then proceed with the award to the pre-identified supplier.

REQUIREMENTS:

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada requires a contractor who can provide quantitation (number of genetic copies) for nine honey bee viruses: ABPV, BQCV, CBPV, DWV, IAPV, KBV, LSV (variants 1-4), SBV and VDV, two parasites: Lotmaria passim and Crithidia mellificae, and one pathogen: Melissococcus plutonius, from samples of honey bees. The selected vendor will be required to provide microscopic counts of spores produced by the honey bee parasites Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae, and identify the parasite species using an end-point PCR protocol. They will perform Paenibacillus larvae microbiological cultivation, colony forming unit quantification and determine if strains are resistant to antibiotics from adult honey bee samples. They will determine sperm viability and perform sperm counting for honey bee queens. Techniques shall be carried out using standard qPCR procedures and primer sets (for viruses, L. passim, C. mellificae, M. plutonius) and end-point PCR (for N. apis and N. ceranae), and standard procedures for P. larvae microbiological cultivation, and sperm counting analysis recognized by the World Organization for Animal Health OIE and the European Reference Lab for Honey Bee Health. 

CRITERIA FOR ASSESSMENT OF THE STATEMENT OF CAPABILITIES :

Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a statement of capabilities that it meets the following requirements:

• Ability to provide the molecular detection of honey bee parasites, pathogens and viruses, including their quantification, as well as quantification and antibiotic resistance of Paenibacillus larvae spores by microbiological cultivation and Nosema species spore counts by microscopy.. 
• Ability to provide sperm viability and sperm counting analysis for honey bee queens.
• Ability to perform quantitative PCR testing for nine honey bee viruses (ABPV, BQCV, CBPV, DWV, IAPV, KBV, LSV (variants 1-4), SBV and VDV), Lotmaria passim, Crithidia mellificae, and Melissococcus plutonius.
• Ability to perform end-point PCR to identify Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae.

STANDING OFFER PERIOD:

From date of award to March 31, 2022, with an option to extend for up to two (2), additional one (1) year option periods.

ESTIMATED VALUE:$157,500.00 (taxes included)

PRE-IDENTIFIED SUPPLIER :

National Bee Diagnostic Centre

100038 Township Road 720

Beaverlodge, AB

T0H 0C0

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION:

There are no other Canadian commercial providers for the services required other than the National Bee Diagnostic Centre. These services are highly specialized, namely the molecular detection and quantification of honey bee parasites, pathogens and viruses, and sperm viability analysis. There are a very limited number of labs offering detection of some honey bee pathogens, few offer quantitation and none offer the required range of diagnostics. There are no Canadian labs which offer sperm viability and sperm counting analysis. There will be no shipping or dry ice costs for transportation, as the National Bee Diagnostic Centre is local to Beaverlodge Research Farm. By omitting shipping, we ensure our sample integrity as samples can thaw if there are delays in shipping.

ACAN NOTICE:

You are hereby notified that the government intends to negotiate with one firm only as identified above. Should you have any questions concerning this requirement, contact the Contracting Authority.

An Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) allows departments and agencies to post a notice, for no less than fifteen (15) calendar days, indicating to the supplier community that it intends to award a good, service or construction contract to a pre-identified contractor. If no other supplier submits, on or before the closing date, a Statement of Capabilities that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, the Contracting Authority may then proceed with the award. However, should a Statement of Capabilities be found to meet the requirements set out in the ACAN, then the Contracting Authority will proceed to a full tendering process.

STATEMENT OF CAPABILITIES CLOSING DATE AND TIME:

The closing date and time for acceptance of Statement of Capabilities is September 23, 2021, at 2:00 pm CST.

Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the services described herein, may submit a statement of capabilities by Email to the contact person identified in this Notice on or before the closing date of this notice. The statement of capabilities must clearly demonstrate how the supplier meets the advertised requirements.

The Solicitation Number, Name of Contracting Authority and closing date of the ACAN must appear within your Statement of Capabilities.

CONTRACTING AUTHORITY:

Natalie O’Neill, Senior Contracting Officer

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Western Service Centre

300 – 2010 - 12^th Avenue

Regina, SK S4P 0M3

Phone: (306) 523-6561

Email: natalie.oneill@agr.gc.ca